Bracelet with strap attachment



A 4, 1951 L. E. CLENDENING 2,563,818

BRACELET WITH STRAP ATTACHMENT Filed May 7, 1946 HUI.

mmvmza. LLOYD E.CLENDE.N|NG

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a bracelet to be worn about the wrist or ankle as an ornament, or by those who follow the custom of wearing a limb encircling metal band, in the belief that it relieves arthritis.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a bracelet comprising an inner band of soft metal, such as silver or copper, having no temper, and therefore readily conformable by bending, to the .contour of the encircling limb, and to surround this by a securing strap of somewhat re silient, although flexible, leather or like material, for holding the ends of the metal band together and for protecting the band from being bent or dented.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and prac tical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partlyin section, of a bracelet embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2. is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevation, partly in section;

Figure 5 is a plan view;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail in plan view, showing the modified form of the invention;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the modification shown in Figure 6.

From time immemorial to the present day, certain tribes of Indians have worn copper or silver bands about the wrist or ankle, both for the purpose of ornamentation and because of their belief that such bands have a preventive or curative effect with respect to such ailments as rheumatism or arthritis. The bands have been made of untempered metal, lacking in springiness, and their effectiveness in the opinion of the original wearer is due to the fact that the metal can be bent or pressed in so as to assume the shape of the wrist or ankle, and to conform closely thereto.

The vogue of wearing bracelets of this type both as ornaments and for the presumed therapeutic benefit, is popular among a great many people besides the Indians. One of the drawbacks of such a band is that being soft and without temper, it is readily dented by blows, or pushed in reentrantly, frequently to such an extent as to bear painfully against the flesh, until straightened out or removed. The present invention provides for surrounding the band witha strap of leather or like material, not only for securing the ends of the band together, but also to protect the band from being dented or pushed in at localized points. The strap is drawn tightly about the metal band to hold the ends together, and thereafter it acts as a hoop about a barrel, distributing impact stresses which may be locally applied, circumferentially about the band so that no one point on the band is ordinarily strained to the extent of being dented or bashed in.

Referring now in detail to the bracelet illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the metal band which is designated by the reference numeral I, is preferably made of soft copper or silver, without temper, therefore substantially devoid of springiness, and readily conformable to the shape of the encircled member. The band is fitted to the wrist or ankle by measuring the circumference of the limb, selecting a band having that length, and conforming it to the limb by bending it therearound and pressing it in repeatedly from. various circumferential points until it has assumed the proper shape. When properly fitted, it does not constrict the flesh or impede circulation, but fits just suificiently snug to be supported over extensive arcuate areas so that one is not sensible of its weight, and it is worn with entire comfort. The ends 2 and 3 of the band preferably abut.

The band is surrounded on the outside by a strap 4 of leather or like'material, which passes through flat retaining loops 5, fixed to the outside of the band. Two of the loops 5a and 5b are adjacent the respective ends of the band so that the portion of the strap which extends between them will be held close to the band and keep its ends in abutment. The strap may be of any desired width, but for complete protection it should be substantially the full width of the band.

The ends of the strap 4 are secured by a buckle 6, and in use the strap is drawn up in tight constrictive relation to the underlying band so as to hold the ends in contact. The leather has surficient inherent resilience to resist being abruptly infolded. In other words, referring to Figure 5, an impactive blow delivered to the strap at the point indicated by the arrow 1, will not be concentrated at that point so as to reentrantly crease the leather, but will be distributed over a considerable arcuate portion of the leather represented by the bracket 8. This distribution of stress prevents blows which would ordinarily produce localized dents or angular bends in the soft metal band from having these damaging effects. The fact that the strap tightly embraces the band also causes impactive stresses applied at one point to be distributed circumferentially and resisted 3 equally by all parts of the band so that no one part is ordinarily subjected to excessive strains. The band thus afiords adequate protection against damage to the soft metal and greatly prolongs the life of the bracelet.

Figures 5, 6 and '7 show a modification of the invention in which the metal band 9 has one end I formed with a sheath or pocket H, which re ceives the other end l2, the latter being preierably ofisetat l3 so that the inside surface ojr";;the band will be flush adjacent both ends and to provide a seat It against which the end It] abuts when the strap 4 is tightened.

The retaining loops 5 in this form; of; the inven;

7 tion are placed somewhat remote from the ends l0 and i2 of the band 9-, so that the strap It can arch over the external projection caused thepresence of the sheath H.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a. preferred and practical form. of the invention, it is, to be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the specific details of construction and arrangement of, parts; as shown, are to be considered illustrative and. not to be construed as limitingthe scope of the invention.

What I' claim as my invention is:

1'. Bracelet comprising a, single strip of; soft metal" having substantially no temper forming a discontinuous circumferential band with its ends substantially.- in abutment, capable: when pressed against the limbencircled of conforming tothe shape Off said limb, strap retainers on the out-. side ofisaid band at spaced points, two of" said retainers. being substantially at the respective ends of said band, and a. strap ofleather-like ma-.

4 terial of greater resilience than said band, overlying said band, and including a buckle by means of which it can be held in tight constrictive relation to said band, said strap being retained in position by said retainers.

2. Bracelet comprising a single strip of soft metal having substantially no temper, forming a discontinuous circumferential band with its ends s bstan l n a utm nt, a sheathlat one of s ends receiving the other end, said band being capable when pressed against the limb encircled of conforming to the shape of said limb, strap retainers on the outside of said band at spaced points, two of said retainers being substantially at the respective ends of said band, and a strap of leather-like material of greater resilience than said; band, overlying said band, and including a buckle by means of which it can be held in tight constrictive relation to said band, said strap being retained in position by said retainers.

LLOYD E. CLENDENI-NG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record; in the 

